Allake, A Famous Mandingo reppartoir

By Bembeya Jazz, Lalo Keba and some others. The variation is interesting.

Alla baraka. Alla lake, woo mou kuma baleti. Alla yee menke, jun maan senbe soto woto.

http://www.weblo.com/music/song/Alla_Lake/video/669973/1/

Siilabaa

By Kaaniba ( a pen name)
Siilabaa bota munto leh wollabaa!
Ninki nanko be seenola
Nkana yerol jeejah
Jambolu lamankangho ka janfaleh
Naa woollyta massibo leka wonooma
Nying siilo mo siilabaa leti
Ah woollabaa!
Allingha nna mammongho taalaa
Fo nsitanka
Nying siilabaa kanginterlude
Harrijaa ye meng nyininkaa
Joobero fo nyadangho nyaamaa looyeh dorong
Ning kurtoo foonto yeh siiyoo too eyeh
Lo too ayeh koh baaba
Baari jaakalo ning koro lebe kayring
Nyino beh jatto bayingdee kaang
Nying tiilii kuntehbaa jaharangho koono
Faa allimamoybang
Jee kensengho buka kumoorejoinder
Siilabaa siilanyima
Siilo bota muntoleh
Nteh malong deh,siilabaa
Barry woolabaa saama yalong
Abedayring tek
Ako jattah kumalaa buka mutaro keh
Nii yamoye hum
Asunkantaleh
Womang jaari noongmutala
Wooto ntoloo mooloSeh hakali nyinii
Nying kuwoloola
For nseh ntaa nyaa long
Hakilo lekah nyambo sing
Sondomeh tantangho
Meng ka wodong Bay leyeh wolong
Amangkeh sinkolomo tidehexeunt.

Jaliba (jaliya and manden aadoo)

ibe jaliba la dokuwo leeh kisi kisi kan. ala jaliya foo asi mandinka kuwoli kidimandino ban?

Jaliba laa denkilo fele jan, jin youtubo linko to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeJv_6bkYqk&feature=related

Taka Boota

Indulge your mind at the Gambian writers website. very interesting book reviews: http://gamwriters.com/africa/gambia/post/2008/10/9/taka-bota-a-mandinka-poem
TAKA BOTA - (A Mandinka poem)
Taka Bota Kunol tita
Subol beh bori la
Nyamol beh jani la.
Ding ding kebba beh kidi la
Wuroh beh kuhma laS
ubol beh boila
Muro ninfang ngoh beh wuleh ringh.
Dol beh ding kol sing na
Dol beh subol jani la
Dol beh loh njini la
Kebal beh siring.
Musol beh subol batu la
Dol beh turoh la
Dol beh jiyo bi la
Dol beh dah jong kih la.
Tilo bi na boila
Kewol beh subol sambala
Kebal beh no ma
Wulol beh no ma.

By E. M. Ngum(Ndaanan, Vol. 5, Issue 1&2, March/September, 1976, p. 18)E. M. Ngum worked for the Telecommunications department wrote several poems.

Tonya Waato Siita

By pen name Karamba
Fo ali maa moi

Yiri baa boita

Kuno lu jangjang ta

Ali lammoi

Kumo siya ta

Tonyafo siita

Tillo malata

Mol silangta

Fallo kumata

Ninsolu kumata

Waato siita

Kibaaro naata

Faniyaa sembo warata

Tonya fatiyata

Hackilo doyata

Kumo siyata

Ali wuli waato siita

Ning tonyaa mang fo

Faniya si lo

Molu balangta

Kaybaa lu beh siiring

Dokuwo beh laaring

Domoro bangta

Kodo bangta

Kiddo kumata

Mol lu beh deh ta

Kibaaro seneya ta

Mol lu bataa ta

Molu beh taa

Mo kiling ya taa

Doli baa fola

Ala bula

Waato siita

Kumo pareh ta

Tonya wul ta

Faniya la ta

Yiribaa boi ta

Kuno lu jangjangta

Kumo koi ta

Faniya dubeng ta

sandoli 9

Baa yeeh bun neh soto, ako tere ( the gaot was given a room, and it want a seating room). this means people who are favoured with something ended up demanding more than necessary.

Sandoli 9

Koo tan ifan naa, bata tejee (measure everything according to your liken, then you will hardly make fault).

The meaning of Sankalanka

The meaning of Sankalanka----Thanks for that comment. To tell you the truth, I don't know what Sankalanka means. A very close friend of mine used to call himself by that name, and I believe it has something to do with his family legacy. His surname was Marong. I know there is a history connected with the name, and he always used it in a very proud and boastful manner.
Kay jatta said it means: “I think it is a Mandingo word about power, strength, and might...; but I stand to be corrected on this.”
Janko explain the meaning as: your explanation is correct but I think it refers to SANKALANG, adjective formed from Sangkalango, noun, object … in this case;SANGO = SkyKALANGO = Coloured; (mostly dark when referring to the colour of the sky)You know, the symbolism is that dark clouds evoke fear.SANKALANKA/ SANGKARANKAIn one of Lalo Kebba Dramé´s songs he praised one Madiba konte from Sangkarang, ”sangkarangka Madiba konté”So, from that perspective SANGKARANG is a historical place (City, town or village). Mostly used by Kora singers in praise-singing so called great families. SANGKARANG = a historical placeN`KA = Of/From SANGKARANKA then means s/he from SANGKARANG. Sangkarang could have been known for its brave, rich or great men and women.
Gainde backed kay jatta explanation: www.onegambia.com
My understanding of SANKALANKA is as Kayjatta puts it, has to do with power, might,bravery etc. SANKARANKA is a historical place and oral history has it that of the three Bojangs(surnames) in The Gambia, the Bojang Sankarankas are originally Kontehs(contehs) originating from Sankaranka Madiba Konteh. Oral history has it further that Bojang comes from the Mandinka 'Bo Dulaa Jang' translated 'coming from a distant(far away) place.
SSS went along with Janko’s explanation:
sangkalangka could mean literally sky thunder.sang meaning sky and kalangbah meaning sharp sound like thunder.as in lebah which is piercing shout.u say that sangkalanka is thundering sky.old folks will call big and towering things sankalang.thundering sky seem to it.a similar word is sangkafalash meaning the sky is flashing.falash and flash,did the english stole that word from us.i know they stole a lots of words?BO-JANG does mean from far away.

Kay Jatta discard his views and support Janko’s one:
"sankalango" and "sankalanka" are both derivatives of the root word "sankalang". If "sankalang" is the noun for the 'fierce and the mighty', "sankalanka" is perhaps one who has his/her origins (ancestry) from such 'fierce and mighty' (people);just as one who is a "sankarango" is also a "sankaranka" because he/she is originates from "Sankarang" ...Sankarang and sankalang may not have the same etymology (history).
Finally Janko hit the nail on the head. Case close:
“Sankalango” is the root word of which the adjective “Sankalang” is derived. It is very unusual to add the suffix “ka” to an adjective(sankalanka), unless it’s a slang word or a metaphor. In Sangkarang, a noun (a place) the suffix ka could be replaced by “ko”. Sango + Kalango = Sangkalango - the root wordSango kalanta janing sanjio kaa keé. Sangkarang, a place; Sangkarangka or SangkarangkoWe have to take usage and context into account and in this case I think the jaliya praise-singing “poetics is the key to understanding the relation between the two words. The Jali use metaphors in their narration especially when mystifying something or someone. Let’s be observant of the jaliya narratives for they would have invented Manding even if Manding never existed.” In jaliya sankalang, as you rightly mentioned, is a virtue credited to Sangkarangkolu. They are two different words but I think the metaphorical usage referring to the virtue, fierce and mighty credited to Sankarangkolu was invented by the Jali. I am not saying the Jali invented the root word “Sangkalango” what am saying is that they invented its metaphorical use in this context.

Mandou, one of Salifu's best song for Sekou Touray

This song is a tribute to Sekou Touray.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBhtDJUVgLg&NR=1

He was saying that, what people look for, God has bless sekou with it all. From wealth to kids, to fame, so why should Sekou worry?

Manden love song by Salifu keita

this one is translated in English. very brilliant poetry by Salifu.
touching for that matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8RWJJsT3xo&feature=channel

Keita at his best...

Alla lakee, lalo Keba

Alla lakkee, moo buka tanbe wola. nin alaa yee menkee, ika isabari lee doron. Lalo keba la yin donkilo yee koto jama lesoto.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0B-WeDkkDY&feature=related
lalo keba's great hit, 'it is the doing of God'.
fadin jawoli, sinyo jawoli...

To learn the general basic Mandingo language

Nko- which means 'i said' in Mandingo is a website dedicated to explaining Mandingo language in its varied dailects.
I will recommend this website to all mandingoes and those interested in learning the language:
http://www.nkoinstitute.com/

The Sankoreh institute did well by developing the Nko phonics.

Mandinka Icon, Kunta kinteh oral history

Cutesy of www.onegambia.com. A video clips of oral history of the mandinka icon kunta kinteh. The video is all in Mandinka in a traditional oral history setting conducted by Alh. Lalo Samateh of radio Gambia.
the link: http://www.onegambia.com/orahistvids.php

Kunta kinteh la tariko woo nin badibu kinteh kunda silo. kora and nin mandinka tariki fola. Alh. lalo samateh men be radio gambe yaa. tariko nyin diyata baaki. alaa lan moi. inmna taran siloo, nun too koowo kacha kadiyale. nin yaa moi nunto, womu wati merin neti.

sandoli 8- mandinka proverbs

1. Nyaah beekan anin nyaah duntela tee kilin (my eye on you and i don’t respect you are different). To admire an individual and trying be like him is not equal to disrespecting him.

2. Loo tebanna seloto, loo nyii nin na lebuka futa (there are lots of fire wood in the forest, it is the seekers that don’t reach the logs). This statement is usually made in cultural praise seeking events. A patron is praise with this accolade, loo in Mandingo means something precious, so to get a gift, one has to ask the right people.

3. Daali (make predictions). Ancient Mandingo Kings are told to make predictions on their coronation day.
4. Santo jara falandun (changing the name of an adult). This term means, when a person converts into Islam, if his/her name is contradictory to the teachings of Islam, he/she has to change the old name. So that name change is seen as santo jara fala dun.

5. Taah-jireya (cruel or merciless or an act of torture). Jankay Wally was said to have asked his governors to be harsh with subjects. He used the term tah-jirehya

Mali mandingo dialect, cutesy of Amadou Touman

Mali la mandinka kanwu. bambaran nin gambia mandingo la kumo doli mukilinti bari doli fatata lee.
http://www.koulouba.pr.ml/spip.php?article1864

an inetersting interview with Mali president Toumani Toure. This is another dialect of mandingo. the verson is slightly different from that of the Senegambia mandingo speech. some of the words cross part, others don't. The Mali Mandingo dialect is the most original.

Sandoli 6

kanfa muu adama jaaw baleti ( anger is man's worst enemy)

Fan kanta kurto, mone buka afara ( when you plan ahead, you avoid disappointments)

mandinka sukuwo (hyms)

Ali Landin kinteba la sukuwo lanmoi.

aka mooli laa limaniya lafaa lee

http://www.iladinolong.com/index/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=64

Salief keita Musoli (women)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAuRkiXJP1c&feature=channel

Musoli is a tribute to women.

Fara nin Janba katan

http://www.gambia.dk/forums/vid.asp?s=http://www.kebbasonko.se/audio/farrah_ning_jamba_khatang.mp3&t=a

A Mandinka story teller. Listen to it and take lesson.

FANN WAROO

Ite jun din, munyanke yee fanwara?
Fanwaro idaahmanso lakumola
Ye fanwara ika dolomin
Yefanwara ika giinoke
Yefanwara ibuka Sali
Yefanwara iko yeeh londo lesoto
Yefanwara iko yeh palaso lesoto
Yefanfara iko yeeh tolesoto
Yefanwara katu itolediyata
Yefanwara katu nafulo lebebulu
Yefanwara ijanfata molila
Fanwaro!
Yamira ikunintale
Yamira ite fahamuta jamaa tii
Yamira itele civiliseti taa jamatii
Bari, ite jundin
Ite fuwaro meen yalun senbe tela
Nin isasata, isi silan
Senbetima jamaa fataa waro kono
Ibonota kensen
Nafulu tii jama fataa warakensen
Lunditi jamaa fata waro kono
Woll bee yamira ila lundo kunmayata Ala batoti
Kee nyinma aanin musu nyinma jama fata warokono
Mansa jama fata waroo kono kensen
Alin ngha nfanma gii, ngha tubi
Waro tee hadama dinwu lafenti
Ala yee moobee letolo, bari waro, kafiro doron nekawo dendiko dun
Nin adama dinwu fata, aka sunkan nee
Senbe tala, noo tala

Dan bila kaa cha, fansung jamano

mandinka keebali laa ka cha, fansung jamano. Ibadin maa gainde meen bee Gambia kilin. ali ilanmoi kaa chala :
http://www.onegambia.com/orahist.php

scroll down to fansung jamano. Mr D's exploit.

Sandoli 4

Kitimbantio yea din din men kulu, sin kanbaa bukawojakali koten (what one is use familiar with, no one can scare him with that)

Kono karita nyo koma kunpa dunta (this statement is referring to people who switch topic as soon someone came into the room or place of discussion. This is to avoid the person finding out what is being discussed.)

Kano diya muu lan nyoleti (Lalo Keba) (the sweetness of love is mutual trust) Nin kanumal man laa nyola, kano man ban ban. If the trust is gone in any relationship, the love might be on its way as well.

Tulo tee bakoo bari aka bako kumo moi (lalo Keba) (the ear is not at the other side of the river but it can hear the echoes of the voices from there

Befo mandiya kumoyee (lalo keba) (to say all is not liked by a word) This statement is closely connected by another saying that “kacha merin leka larandan daa mafofen bondi” (Badibu Saying) a prolong chat reveals secrets. Here in the first case, when having a conversation, limit the duration if not you wouldn’t have any else to say. The solution ends up talking about the confidential issues.

Sandoli 4

1. Bankiran koli- ( a proper translation of this word is needed. It is use for the Nyanchos mainly, a Kabuu dialect i think.)
2. Turo (seed) or geneology or future offspring.
3. Abarakaah (bless you). the root of this word is Arabic in origin. Barakah means blessing.
4. Iininbara (thank you) good work, good afternoon. This is universal mandingo greeting for many occasions.
5. Sankilin kuma kilin (one year, one word)

Sandoli 3

1. Bonoto kalafii anyonwlela (people in loss want more of like them). This statement implies losers want more people like them so that no one make fun of them.
2. Aman kutute' (under achiever). The term refers to lazy people, higly dependent folks
3. Sondomo wararo (low capacity to think or too much pride)
4. Doutala foforo (late night whisling). A surprise gesture, a sad and disappointing incident.

A detail history of griout tradition of Mandingo by Erci Cherry

Eric Cherry la nyin booko be londo jama lediya akaranna nala. Ala kata alyeh booko nyin googlu.
This google book has detail accounts of Eric Cherry's indept research into the griout traditions of the Mandingos. An interesting book.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_gA9a3qkglwC&pg=PR24&lpg=PR24&dq=mandinka+phrases&source=bl&ots=jDg-JEoPKx&sig=O3StEJB7J8ZO8psvOYtVr6Kvxck&hl=en&ei=98pASvjPJJ68jAe7koCPCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4

See how some christian groups use the Mandinka langauge

kurumatoli bee mandinka kanwu lee kee kan kawandi ranwuti. Ilafita kaa bibulo lee foo mandinkoliyee, bari mandinkoli yee misilimeya lee kaanu adun wolemu tonyati fanan.

The missionary recordings of mandinka langauge from bible text. This is to chritianise those who don't understand english. mandinkas on the other hand are mostly muslim, they have chosen that faith long ago and it is intertwine with many of their hesritage.

http://globalrecordings.net/program/C01641

Nghansin bondo, mandinka traditions

nkhansin bindo, nin imanta kewuloto, woto, londo doo soto jaan,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6Wev0T1kE&feature=related

Nghansinwu kela dumale.

Kankuran men kanfata. wuulaa baa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v1vb17PhBA&feature=related

fan bondi men be janbokon, kifara lomu.

Mandinka tantan donwu

Nyin vidoe muu mandinka tanatanwu leti, ite famata nyin sifa jubela. Bari nna adoo bebandine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoOwFwF58Ds&feature=related

This is an old traditional mandinka drumming dance with women leading the way. I haven't seen things like this for ages.

A Youtube video of the state of mandinka language today

This video demonstrate how youths are incapable of speaking proper mandinka without inserting uncommon language. The mandinka men in the video have a Kombonka accent, but they have not articulate the proper usage of the mandinka words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIpu1CwDORc

Sandoli 2 .Mandingo proverbs 2

6. Moo kendo Danwu Doyata (good people are fewer now). This statement means that there are large numbers of people around but good ones are few.
7. Keba loto dibola, nin momejee, Ifanwu yaa fanjele (an elder standing in the dark, knows his place even if others don’t). These statements are remarks to connote one knowing his/her status and condition even if no one knows.
8. Buntalo sungw lemu bundirotee (it is the reputation of a scorpion to sting people). This means, every person has its reputation that precedes them.
9. Ten ten ka ten ten betilee (a basket can cover another basket). This comment best describe the power of people. However strong and powerful you think you are, there is somebody who can overpower you.
10. Nyri kunto meeta baakono nya wo nyandin aah buka keno banbotii (however long a wood spent in a river it cannot change into a crocodile) This statement implies the impossible scenarios. There some people, when they travel, they change to try being like their host. Some will abandon their heritage and roots in the name of modernism and rational thoughts. The statement indept means, in as much you try immitating others, it may not be possible to be like them in appearance and actions.

sandoli

1. Aah modomokeno banta (his share of food is finish) a coded word for death. This type of statements are made when children are present in the place of announcing an obituary.
2. Aah mingioyodoya (His share of drink in finish). Another word to disguise news of death.
3. domota (suto, ika foo koyele domota, men kadomo) salt is referred to as domota (that which is eaten at night, it is a superstitition).
4. Kootee koo-danila (salt owner yet begging for salt). The curiosity of women, they go asking for salt just to know what food other women are cooking. This happens in local communities.
5. Sin-noh laseeya Nin Moo laseeya Tekilintii. (The high number of footsteps doesn’t signify a high number of people). This is true because footsteps indicate people but does it mean many footsteps are a direct result of large number of people?

Sory Kandia la denkilo. keme burama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIuH_fs2bvw&feature=related
Keme Burama muu Almamy Samory domaleti. Keme burama lakekendeya woo laya kendi ika afoyaye keme. keme, wolemu ati kilin muu kee keme leti. woto Keme burama muu jatoleti.

kuma kan jama lebe denkilo nyinto.

Lalo Keba la denkilo, Alalakee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0B-WeDkkDY some translation from the song on weblink.
Lalo Keba layin denkilo yee mandinka kumaba jaama lesoto akono. Ako dinwu la juloba analela.
Alake muu kumaba leti. (a child's future prospect is attached to the mother)
Ako duya koloya nin sonoya (this world is about good times and hard times)
Sinyo jawoli manbeti, kafunyo jawoli manbete (enemies that are close neigbours are dangerous and an enemy who is a cl0se associate is a risky thing to do).
Musu mansa mansiya nari akanda siyalata (women rullers are few but women with strong voices and authourity are many).

AL-SAMAA

Ibadin mandinkoli aah nan kanwu moi lilalu, ibali kontonna. Nyin buloko muu albele tati. ilafita mandinka talin aah nin sandoli see lon jamayee.
Al-ninbara fo nyato.